It seems to be an English tradition to create sporting ideas, export them worldwide and then find themselves on the end of regular drubbings, courtesy of other nations. It could be the Brazilians in soccer, the Kiwis in rugby or the Aussies in cricket. Still, one tradition that underpins these markets and that the English pioneered is the broad and all-encompassing world of sports betting.
Australia has the highest concentration of gamblers per capita out of any country on Earth, and given that Australia is at the top of the pile of the men’s test rankings and second in the ODI rankings, it’s no surprise that the sport commands enormous levels of popularity and that the cricket betting markets that underpin the market are some of the most popular Down Under.
Betting on cricket – covering the basics
As with any sport, you should never bet on a market you do not understand. If you don’t know the rules of cricket, don’t know the difference between ODI’s, T20 and test matches, and aren’t sure which two teams participate in the Ashes, then betting on cricket probably isn’t the best move.
However, if you live and breathe the sport, you might be surprised to see how many betting markets are available online. It’s no exaggeration to say you can bet on everything in cricket – whether you want to bet on the outcome of the next ball, the next over, the next wicket or the next World Cup, cricket betting sites have you covered.
You don’t really need to become a cricket aficionado to start betting on it. Still, a competent knowledge of the sport combined with how to place a bet, the names of different markets, and how to shop around and get the best bonus offers are just a few of the basics to begin with before you start placing real-money wagers.
Domestic or international?
The rise of the Indian Premier League is linked to a sharp increase in the number of Aussies betting on domestic cricket markets. Clearly, the IPL is not a domestic Aussie market, but there are so many Aussie superstars playing in the league that it may as well be domestic Aussie cricket.
It has revolutionized the concept of the domestic market, following the English Premier League model in soccer. Betting companies didn’t waste any time following this blueprint either, offering Aussie bettors a plethora of markets and giving them something to watch during the international off-season.
Betting on the IPL and T20 internationals has plenty of crossovers, given that they are the same game. We’d recommend shopping around, though, and finding betting sites that either incentivize sign-ups for cricket customers or betting credits for the same markets.
However, if you are looking to bet on longer forms of cricket, such as five-day Test matches or 50-over games, then your focus should be on the international cricket season.
Bet responsibly
You don’t have to go far to find cricket news online, and you also don’t need to look around too much to find the offers and promotions that sportsbooks are offering on the latest cricket games.
Betting responsibly and keeping it within a manageable framework is vital – and this isn’t just the case for those who bet on cricket; it applies to all sports and all casino games. Here are the key points of responsible gambling to be aware of before betting on cricket in Australia:
- Always bet within your limits.
- Only bet with money you can afford to lose.
- Set time limits and do not exceed them.
- Do not see gambling as a source of income.
- Do not chase your losses.
If you or somebody you know is developing an issue with their betting, seek assistance from a problem gambling charity or helpdesk that can better assist you with how to obtain help for this issue.
Dissect the data
Bookies get it wrong so rarely that any anomalies in betting odds should be checked. They’ll often factor in the state of the pitch, the bowling lineup, head-to-head data and weather conditions. It’s next to impossible to get one over on the bookies, and if you spot odds that seem slightly out of kilter then it’s best to check again before you’re a little lighter in the pocket.
However, some markets do offer value; it can be rare to encounter them but they are out there. Again, just because you know all the data like the back of your hand and can reel off obscure facts about Warne or Bradman doesn’t mean you can beat the bookies.
Find the data, use it as a guide, but don’t think that you’ll be able to make money in the market because you know the sport. This is a common issue throughout sports betting, and if there were a way to beat the bookies, they wouldn’t be generating billions of dollars of profit every year. Keep it simple, keep it light and stay within your limits.
Final thoughts
Betting on cricket in Australia is similar to betting on it in any other country; the global nature of sports betting and the growing interconnectivity of the market has resulted in cricket bettors being able to access live markets whenever they need to.
The immense popularity of the IPL has shone a light on domestic Australian cricket and other domestic leagues worldwide, including in South Africa and England. You can find plenty of markets for these leagues, too, but as we have already mentioned, don’t go betting on Lancashire against Sussex if you don’t even usually watch domestic English cricket.
It might be tempting, especially if you can watch along online or even on a sports betting app where you can place instant in-play wagers, but just because you like cricket doesn’t give you carte blanche to bet on any market you find – this can be the quickest way of losing your money.
Stick to Aussie markets, follow the Aussies in the IPL, and once you have done a deep dive into betting terminology, terms and responsible gambling protocol, bet only with money you can afford to lose.
